**Question:** A 22-year-old primigravida woman develops hypertension at 32 weeks. She reports no vision change, headache, shortness of breath, or abdominal symptoms. Her pregnancy is uneventful until now. She has no significant past medical history and is not on any medications except vitamins. On examination the blood pressure is 160/100 mm Hg, heart rate is 100/min, and the rest of the examination is normal except for 1+ pedal edema. Her complete blood count, liver enzymes, and electrolytes are normal. The urinalysis is positive for proteinuria. Which of the following is true for this type of hypertension?

A. Essential hypertension
B. Preeclampsia
C. Chronic kidney disease
D. Cerebrovascular disease

**Correct Answer:** B. Preeclampsia

**Core Concept:**

Hypertension during pregnancy can be categorized into various types based on the underlying cause and clinical presentation. In the given scenario, we are considering a woman with hypertension in her second stage of pregnancy (24-42 weeks), who has developed proteinuria. This type of hypertension is known as preeclampsia.

**Why the Correct Answer is Right:**

The correct answer is preeclampsia (option B) because:

1. The patient presents with hypertension (blood pressure greater than 140/90 mmHg) and proteinuria, which is the presence of protein in the urine.
2. The hypertension is new-onset, as the patient's blood pressure was normal until the 32nd week of pregnancy.
3. The patient has no history of renal disease, cardiovascular disease, or significant medical history that would explain her hypertension.
4. The patient is not on any medications, aside from vitamins, which indicates that the hypertension is likely pregnancy-related.

**Why Other Options are Incorrect:**

A. Essential hypertension (option A) is hypertension that occurs in non-pregnant individuals and is not specific to the pregnancy period.

C. Chronic kidney disease (option C) is a long-standing kidney disease that is not the cause of the hypertension in this case.

D. Cerebrovascular disease (option D) is a condition affecting blood vessels in the brain, which is not the primary concern in this scenario.

**Clinical Pearl:**

Preeclampsia is a pregnancy-specific complication characterized by hypertension and proteinuria after 20 weeks of gestation. It poses a significant risk to both the mother and the fetus, and early detection and management are crucial for favorable pregnancy outcomes.